Cleanup of Fortrose beach urged

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A Fortrose resident concerned with glass litter on Fortrose beach is glad more is being done to raise awareness of the issue.

Wendy Baker presented glass shards that she had collected off the beach to councillors at an Environment Southland meeting last week.

Environment Southland environment management director Warren Tuckey said the problem was caused by old glass being exposed in the sand at low tide, while some of the old glass came from the sand banks.

Environment Southland would draft a sign, with the help of Miss Baker, the Southland District Council and the Southern District Health Board, to alert people to broken glass on the beach, he said.

Miss Baker had been encouraged to start a coast care group that the regional council would fund up to $500 a year.

The regional council also offered funding for beach cleanups, which Miss Baker could apply for early next year, Mr Tuckey said.

Miss Baker said it was good to see Environment Southland and the Southland District Council were being proactive.

"It's just helping people be aware.

"It's helping with safety and it's helping the environment," she said.

A coast care group had been cleaning glass in the area for several years but had not applied for funding from Environment Southland.